Bass Fishing Tip of the Week 10/10/2010: Trolling Motor Battery Maintenance

Trolling motors are essential boating gear for bass fishermen and loss of power especially in tournament situations can be a frustrating experience. One of the prime candidates for power loss is a battery in bad shape. Proper maintenance can extend the life of the batteries and provide years of satisfactory performance.

One of the most important things to do for battery care is to charge the discharged battery within 24 hours of use. This minimizes the effect of permanent sulfation of the plates within the battery and extends it's life. If you procrastinate, you can permanently lose the staying power of the battery that results in shorter discharge cycles and a quicker loss of power.

Another item to watch is the water level within the battery cells. Check the cells at least once a month by popping off the cover and refill if necessary with distilled water. Don't use tap water as it can also reduce the life of the battery.

An onboard charger can prevent you from disregarding charging the batteries. It makes things much easier as all that you have to do is plug the charger into your extension cord. Buy one that is at least 5 amps per battery, preferably 10 amps or more would be ideal.

Finally, when your batteries don't seem to hold a charge as long as they once did replace them with a quality deep cycle battery. Look for the amp hour rating for trolling motor applications. The higher the value the longer the battery will last during your fishing trip.

Until next time, check your batteries and Do More Catching with Less Fishing!

The Largemouth Herald